FORTH OF JULY

Summer officially started last weekend which means the fourth is right around the corner! I love making holidays festive so here are some ways to make everything red, white, and blue for the 4th of July!

Before I go any further, GOD BLESS THE USA. I am so thankful for my freedom and that I live here. Thank you to every single military service family for your sacrifices. I am free because of you!

FOURTH OF JULY SNACKS

MINI FRUIT PIZZA

We made these last year and for sure will be doing it again! They are so GOOD!

MINI FRUIT PIZZA CRUST:
To save time, I just buy the Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough! Roll them into small balls and bake according to directions. These make for the fruit pizza crust!

MINI FRUIT PIZZA FROSTING:
5 TBS salted butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups powered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Use the paddle attachment to cream butter, then blend in cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy.

PRESENTATION:
Set everything out on a platter (like pictured) so everyone can build their own mini patriotic fruit pizza! This keeps it fresh each time you eat it! So festive!

HOMEMADE PATRIOTIC CREAM POPS

Last year we made something similar (orange marshmallow pops) and they were really good, except we didn’t care for the marshmallow in it. I thought of something new to try, and of course it had to be festive!

You can make these in nice popsicle molds, or do the old fashioned way…bathroom Dixie cup and a popsicle stick!

RED CREAM POPS
1 cup boiling water
3 oz package of red Jello
1/2 cup cherry OR strawberry juice (Kool-aid would work!)
2 cups softened vanilla ice cream

BLUE CREAM POPS
1 cup boiling water
3 oz package blue Jello
1/2 cup blue Kool-aid
2 cups softened vanilla ice cream

Step 1: Add boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Cool slightly. Gradually add cherry juice and gelatin to ice cream in large bowl, beating with mixer after each addition until blended.

Step 2: pour mixture into small Dixie cup and cover with plastic wrap. Use a sharp knife to make a small slice in the top. Slip a popsicle in there.

Step 3: repeat step one and two to make blue cream pops!

OTHER FUN IDEAS:

4th of July Rice Krispie Treats // looks like a fun treat that could also be a fun activity!

Paula Deen Strawberry Trifle // I’ve made this so many times in the past years and let me try to explain how good it is…I can’t. Make it yourself and you’ll understand LOL!

4TH OF JULY PLAYLIST

AMERICAN GIRL // tom petty
R.O.C.K. IN THE USA // john mellengamp
BORN IN THE USA // bruce springsteen
AMERICAN PIE // don mclean
AMERICAN WOMAN // lenny kravitz
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER // jimi hendrix
SWEET HOME ALABAMA // lynyrd skynyrd
ALL SUMMER LONG // kid rock
INDEPENDENCE DAY // martina mcbride
FREE BIRD // lynyrd skynyrd
AMERICAN KIDS // kenny chesney
CHICKEN FRIED // zac brown band
GOD BLESS THE USA // lee greenwood
COURTESY OF THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE // toby keith
SOME GAVE ALL // billy ray cyrus
RAGGED OLD FLAG // johnny cash

Did I miss any that is your favorite? Let me know and I’ll add it!

FIREWORKS // orange + spearmint + tangerine
LAND THAT I LOVE // wintergreen + valor + lime
STARS AND STRIPES // geranium + bergamot + lime
SPARKLERS // orange + lemon + peppermint
PARADES // grapefruit + nlbs + lime
CELEBRATE // bergamot + orange + ylang ylang
APPLE PIE // cinnamon + vanilla + lemon + clove

4TH OF JULY TIPS

add a drop of peppermint to bug bites
smell peppermint for car sickness
make a cooling spray with peppermint, witch hazel, and water
drop of peppermint vitality under your tongue for heartburn after eating all the yummy food